The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-08
BLIND TOM.
The Early History of His Life-The Re
markable Memory Of the Blind
Musical Prodigy.
From the Anoustn, Ga. Neus.

Since the recent action of the courts
in taking Blind Tom from the Gus
tody of Mr.. Bethune, his former life
long friend, manager and protector,
has brought him so prominently be-
fore the public in the newspapers,
few facts concerning his childhood
by one who knew him then may not
prove uninteresting. He was born
near the city of Columbus, in Mus
cogee County, Ca, of slave parents.
the property of General James n.
Bethune, at that time editor and pro.
prietor of newspaper called the
Corner Stone, but in exactly what
year do not know, as he was some
six or eight years, or it may be a
little older, when ! first met him in
1856.
My first meeting with him was in
this wise: I had just married few
months previously, and one of Gen.
eral Bethune's daughters had been
one of our bridesmaids. On our re-
turn from a northern tour we were in
yited to dine at General Bethune's.
During the day music was proposed
and upon the piano and flute my wife
and I played a tune which We had
heard for the first time at one of the
theatres in Philadelphia. At the first
sound of the music, Tom came rush
ing into the parlor in single gar
ment, so common among the "little
niggers" in the South, and while the
music was going on he fell down
upon the floor, rolled over, turned
somersaults, clapped his hands,
groaned, and went through divers
motions, really more as if he were in
pain than experiencing emotions of
pleasure. AS soon, however, as the
last note was played, he sprang up,
rushed to my wife, and pushing at
her, cried out, eagerly: "Miss Fan
nie-he knew her well-please git
away; I wants ter play dat tune!''
And jumping upon the piano stool,
he played it off perfectly, although I
know he had never heard it until that
moment, for it had only been recent,
ly published and had not yet come
South. TO test him, then Others
played tunes he had never heard, and
he would Immediately play them of
with both hands, just IS he had heard
them. He seems to love all sounds
whether musical or harsh. He loved
to do the chnrning for the family
just to have the monotcnous sounc
of the dasher in the cream. He ha:
even been known 10 pinch and other
wise tease babies just to hear then
cry.
One habit Of his seems to SAVIOR {
good deal Of romance, yet it is true
Being blind he would stay away from
home, listening to the songs OF birds
as they fitted from tree to tree til
he would get lost in the woods, IN
able to find his way back. Upo1
such occasions the most practicable
way 70 find him would be for Mr
John Bethune-his first manager-tt
60 out in the woods and play hi
flute, when Tom would hear it, com'
to the sound, and thus get back home
Although idiotic, he was, even a
that early age, endowed with a won
derful memory. After spending tn
day at General Bethune's as related
above, it was over six years before
saw him again. The war was goins
on, and one day on taking q train,
Unexpectedly found Dir. John Be
. thune with Tom on the train. I ad
dressed Mr.. Bethune and then Tom
not dreaming that he would recogniz
me, when, to my infinite surprise, h
said: "How'd'ye, Mr.. Sharp; how
Miss Fanny?" To which I said
why, Tom, how do you know me s.
well?" lie replied: "Oh, I know
you, en- Miss Fanny, too; don't yo1
know when you was at our house an
played dis tune?" and he whistled th
, very tune mentioned above. On tba
trip discovered how the absence o
sight had rendered all bis other
more acute for as we dashed alon
at perhaps thirty miles an hour h
could always tell whether we wer
passing woods or open fields, houses
. cuts, embankments, bridges, or a
most anything else. remember "
. entered a small village on the raj
, road when 1 asked Tom what wa
outside, to which he promptly replied
. "A heap of houses"
J A very amusing scene was whe
] Millie Christini-the twin negroe
, Omitted at the back ))-known as th
f. Carolina twins, were in that section